River Stour - Kent

[LONG_KEELER]

Thought I might have a play around this part of Kent if the weather improves .

Must be 20 years since I last made a visit. I remember trying to cross Pegwell Bay and had to wait a bit for water drawing 4' 6" . I stayed a couple of nights leaning against the wall just before Sandwich Bridge.

Wondering what CD is these days and does the Sandwich Bridge still open ?

TIA

 

[mrming]

Info in the “Navigation Info” section of the Sandwich Port site - including a chartlet for the Estuary: HOME

Says the swing bridge can be opened at an hour’s notice.

Haven’t braved it myself yet (fin keel 1.6m) but it’s on my list to try.

 

[harvey38]

If it doesn't work out you will always find a vacant berth across the bay in Ramsgate.

 

[Mudman]

We had a couple of nights in Sandwich this month. The tidal curve is strange (Tidal Curve) - about 3 hours of flood and 9 hours of ebb at Sandwich itself so the flood flows very hard through the town. We aimed to arrive at HW at the quay to avoid this (although then discovered that the flow continues in the flood direction for about an hour and a quarter after HW). HW at the quay is just under an hour later than it is in the bay, so arriving at the safe water mark a couple of hours before HW in the bay we wiggled up the channel as far as no.7 (Estuary Chartlet) then dropped the hook for an hour just N of the channel - I don’t recall seeing much less than 3m coming over the sands (we draw less than a metre with the keel up). Once in the river proper thermos plenty of depth. The harbour master, Ian Broughton, is very helpful - his phone number is on the website.

You will need a fender board to lie against the quay. I believe the marina (pontoons along the river bank) now offers visitors berths (may be draft restricted).

We saw the bridge open a few times.

A highly recommended jaunt. If you are thinking of eating out then book in advance - we didn’t (Sunday night) and ended up with (excellent) fish & chips onboard.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Hi Mr L K ; that Great Stour was my happy boating ground for a few years ; recall that there is about 10 miles of accesable river above Sandwich Quay ; I had no problems in my Motor Craft then , but minimal draught required ; its a glourious river with Open Farmed and Crop Grown activities on each bank ; two places up river to stop and get a Drink or Meal ; Plucks Gutter is the first place then Grove Ferry where there are moorings alongside , afloat (well I was in my minimal draught boat) 24 x 7 ; at Grove ferry there is a fixed bridge which limits boats to Dinghys and Canoes ; a little used river in my experience ; a boats draught limits most Off Shore types ; ,have no info on the actual water depth ; guess that the rivers tides current are influenced by the water running into the river 24/7 from way up into kent poss further on ; a quiet river but greately enjoyable there is a Boat Club at Grove Ferry with moorings but the Local Pub also has bankside berths ; my experience with the Sandwich Bridge is that the Bridge Keeper stops the traffic to allow the bridge to open , and seems never to be in a hurry to allow the traffic to flow again , favouring us Boaters to pass through OK ; The Boatyard at Sandwich above the Bridge is Highway Marine (or was the I last was there) they can be found with google they have berths both sides of the river but best to approach them early on ; If you can make it its a really pleasant river but owing to the many many bends in the river my guess its a motoring river not a sailing one ,

Anyways enjoy Kent River at its very best CP